A Ghost of Christmas Past

   

     Back in 1969, the world was embroiled in Vietnam, gas was 35 cents a gallon and a loaf of bread cost about the same. The Beatles "Abbey Road" was released, and The 5th Dimension was singing 'Let the Sunshine In." It was a different world 44 years ago.
     Not coming from a wealthy family, I never received extravagant gifts, nor could I afford to give them. Sometime during December the crass commercialism of the 60s prompted me to write a letter to the editor of the Delaware County Daily Times. Using Virginia O'Hanlon's letter, written in 1889, questioning the existence of Santa Claus,  as my jumping off point, I yearned for a simpler time. So here it is the musings of a 17 year old back in the 60s.....

       As I read through this it came to me, that things still haven't changed all that much as we approach Christmas 2013. The advertising starts earlier, the stores open earlier and stay open later, but we still are a pretty commercial crowd.  In spite of all that, 124 years later, I think we could still tell Virgina that "Yes, there is a Santa Claus."